Refitting flush valves



y 1957 I L.4F. SHESLER 2,797,536

REFITTING FLUSH VALVES I Filed May 7, 195 4 INVENTOR.

LAURENCE F. SHESLER 2,797,536 nEFrTrrNG FLUSH VALVES Y LaurenceEshesler, Yonkers, N. Y. Application May 7, 1954,8erial No. 428,296 sClaims. (c1. 51-.--187) This invention relates to water closets and inparticular to the flush valve assemblage Contained therein forregulating the flow of water to a toilet bowl.

A flush valve assemblage essentially comprises a rubberized ball-typefloat valve which operates in conjunction with a flow pipe leading to atoilet bowl, the head of said pipe being constructed so as to providefor the water-tight seating of the float valve. Ideally, the said flowpipe should be composed of a brass which contains a high percentage ofcopper for the brass must 'be able to withstand the corrosive effects ofwater for a lengthy period of time if it is who a practical structure.However, brass containing a high percentage of copper is expensive andthere is a tendency to reduce the copper component of that alloy Whileincreasing the amount of zinc contained therein. Decreasing thepercentage of copper within prescribed limits has little effect upon thegeneral sturdiness of the flow pipe itself, but it does cause the pipehead which serves as a valve seat to become subject to a certain degreeof corrosion with the passage of time. This corrosion causes the valveseat to become pitted and irregular.

As has been hereinbefore stated,;the head of the flow pipe, the valveseat, is designed with regard to the flush valve so as to provide forthewater-tight seating of the rubberized ball-type flush valve. When theflush valve is sucked upon the valve seat at the endof a flushingoperation, the valve must be perfectly seated to prevent leakage.

When the flow pipe and the valve seat are new, there is relativelylittle trouble in seating the flush valve. The said valve is sucked downtowards the seat at the end of a flushing operation and then skids uponthe smooth surface of the seat into a water-tight relationshiptherewith. However, with the passage of time, the valve seat becomespitted and rough because of corrosion and when this occurs the flushvalve can no longer skid into position on the valve seat and tends toremain improperly seated permitting leakage which must be avoided.Generally, this condition arises after the flow pipe and valve seat havebeen in use for a few years.

When considering the prevailing practice of replacing such flow pipesand/ or the high cost of maintaining a water-tight seal in connectiontherewith, it struck me that the valve seat might be refitted forperfect valve seating without removing the flow pipe from the watercloset, as is conventionally done.

Accordingly, it is one of the primary objects of my invention to devisea means whereby such valve seats may be refitted for Water-tight seatingwithout their removal from the water closet.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a means wherebyan individual home owner will be able to refit such valves in a simpleand inexpensive fashion.

A further object of my invention is to provide a means whereby a flushvalve seat may be adapted to the flush valve instead of the valve beingadapted to the seat.

Still another object of my invention is to utilize the flexibleball-type flush valve in refitting such valve seats.

Briefly stated, my invention comprises, as a device for refitting avalve seat of a water closet flush valve, an abrasive mantle adapted tofit over at least that portion of the flush valve member which dropsintoand engages the valve seat.

A fuller understandingof the invention and the manner in which itsobjectives and advantages may be realized will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description thereof taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein: I

Fig. lris a side elevation of a, flush valveassemblage with a portion ofthe flow pipe broken away, and

Fig. 2 illustrates the form of theinvention wherein an abrasive mantleis detachably affixed to the flush valve of Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of another form of the present invention incombination with the float valve of Fig. l, and

Fig. 4 illustrates a float valve constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, and

Fig. 5 shows the invention in combination with a hand crank. I

Referring to the drawings: in Fig. 1, flush valve 10 is shown improperlyseatedupon valve seat 11, the said seat constituting the head of flowpipe 12. As hereinbefore explained, improper seating results when theflush valve is not permitted to skid into water-tight relationship withthe valve seat. This occurs when the surface of the valve seat hasbecome rough and irregular due to corrosion.

'In Fig. 2, abrasive mantle 13 having aplurality of flaps or tabsl t isshowndet-achably afiixed to the resilient ball-type flush valve ofFig.l. The flush valve is readily removed from the assemblage shown in Fig.v1 so as to permit the aflixation of the abrasive mantle. The mantle maybe reliably secured to the flush valve by means of nylon cord 15 asshown in Fig. 2 threaded through flaps 14., V g

The abrasive mantle may ,be of conventional canvas cloth'to whose outersurface fine abrasive particles have been adhered. However, if it isdesired to eliminate the flaps and the cord of Fig. 2, an elastic mantle16, shown in Fig. 3, the outer surface of which contains an abrasive 17,may be, stretched over flush valve 19. Alternatively, the outer surfaceof the resilientflnsh valve itself may contain abrasive elements, asshown in Fig. 4.

In practice, when the resilient ball type flush valve is not properlyseated "because'of the corroded condition of its seat, the said valve isremoved from the flush assemblage to permit. an abrasive mantle, such asshown in Fig. 2, to be mounted thereupon. After the abrasive mantle ismounted upon the ball-type flush valve, the valve is returned to thesaid seat and rotated thereupon until the said seat is ground to adegree of smoothness wherein the ball-type valve will be permitted toskid into water-tight relationship with the said seat at the end of aflushing operation.

The grinding operation may be carried on by hand in the flush tank afterthe water has been removed therefrom, the flush assemblage being soconstructed and arranged that it will not interfere with handmanipulation of the flush valve and the mantle mounted thereupon.

Alternatively, the flush valve with its abrasive mantle may be combinedwith drive means 18 inserted into the head of the flush valve as isshown in Fig. 5. A mechanical driving aid such as is shown is employedif a rapid rate of rotation is desired. When the invention, as shown inFig. 2, is used in combination with a drive means thereby imparting ahigh rate of rotation to the structure, I find that most effectiveoperation can be obtained if a mantle possessing a fine grade ofabrasive is employed. However, a rougher grade of abrasive may beemployed in connection with the drive means of Fig. 5 for in thatembodiment the mantle is securely afiixed to retaining means 19 threadedupon the valve end of the said drive means. a t

It is to be noted that because of the resilient nature of the ball-typeflush valve and its nippled head, the elongated drive means insertedtherein does not necessarily have to he maintained in a verticalposition during the grinding operation but may be tilted away 'from thevertical Without disturbing the seating of the rotating flush valve.This feature makes for free manipulation of the device of Fig. 5.

The actual grinding of the valve seat need not be done by hand or withpower driven means for the flush valve provided with an abrasive coat,such as shown in Fig.4, will gradually sand the seat smooth duringthecourse of many flushing operations.

While the invention has been described in detailwith respect to severalpreferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art, after reading this specification, that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new'and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A means for refinishing the roughened seat of a water closet flushvalve so as to permit the resilient tank ball associated therewith toengage said seat in leak proof relationship comprising a collapsibletank ball covering, the valve seat end of said tank ball beinginsertable in said covering, said covering opening to fit smoothly overthe tank ball when the tank ball is inserted therein, the outer side ofsaid covering incorporating abrasive material for grinding said valveseat, the covering being flared to permit said tank ball to be fullyinserted therein.

2. A means for refinishing the roughened seat of a water closet flushvalve so as to permit the resilient tank ball associated therewith toengage said seat in leak proof relationship comprising a collapsibletank ball covering, the valve seat end of said tank ball beinginsertable in said covering, said covering opening to fit smoothly overthe tank ball when the tank ball is inserted therein, the outer side ofsaid covering incorporating abrasive material for grinding said valveseat, the covering being flared to permit said tank ball to be fullyinserted therein, said covering being detachably aifixable to the tankball.

3. A means for refinishing the roughened seat of a water closet flushvalve so as to permit the resilient tank ball associated therewith toengage said seat in leak proof relationship comprising an annularcovering of collapsible material for said tank ball, the valve seat endof said tank ball being insertable in said covering, said coveringopening to fit smoothly over the tank ball when the tank ball isinserted into the annulus, the outer side of the annular coveringincorporating abrasive material for grinding said valve seat, theannular covering being flared to permit said tank ball to be fullyinserted therein.

4. A means for refinishing the roughened seat of a water closet flushvalve so as to permit the resilient tank ball associated therewith toengage said seat in leak proof relationship comprising an annularcovering of collapsible material for said tank ball, the valve seat endof said tank ball being insertable in said covering, said coveringopening to fit smoothly over the tank ball when the tank ball isinserted into the annulus, the outer side of the annular coveringincorporating abrasive material for grinding said valve seat, theannular covering being flared to permit said tank ball to be fullyinserted therein, said covering being detachably afiixable to the tankball.

5. A means for refinishing the roughened seat of a water closet flushvalve so as to permit the resilient tank ball associated therewith toengage said seat in leak proof relationship comprising an annularcovering of collapsible material for said tank ball, the valve seat endof said tank ball being insertable in said covering, said coveringopening to fit smoothly over the tank ball when the tank ball isinserted into the annulus, the outer side of the annular coveringincorporating abrasive material for grinding said valve seat, theannular covering being flared to permit said tank ball to be fullyinserted therein, said covering being detachably atfixable to the tankball and tiltable with the tank ball on the valve seat when the tankball and covering are mounted on said seat for grinding.

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